This is actually from my calculus textbook, but its in the first chapter which is all pre-calculus review. Unfortunately, I never was taught about difference quotients. Do they come up in calculus alot? Anyway, here's the prob:
If , evaluate the difference quotient

January 24th 2010, 11:17 PM

Jhevon

Quote:

Originally Posted by windir

This is actually from my calculus textbook, but its in the first chapter which is all pre-calculus review. Unfortunately, I never was taught about difference quotients. Do they come up in calculus alot? Anyway, here's the prob:
If , evaluate the difference quotient

yes, this shows up in calculus a lot. it is used to define the derivative, a very important concept in calculus.

anyway, and . Plug these into the difference quotient, expand the brackets and simplify. your main objective is to cancel the in the denominator.

January 24th 2010, 11:19 PM

tonio

Quote:

Originally Posted by windir

This is actually from my calculus textbook, but its in the first chapter which is all pre-calculus review. Unfortunately, I never was taught about difference quotients. Do they come up in calculus alot? Anyway, here's the prob:
If , evaluate the difference quotient